by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — Jim Devaux is enjoying another strong year driving at Monticello and Saratoga raceways. The 50-year-old New York native entered Monday with 158 wins overall, ranking No. 9 among all drivers in North America.

Devaux recently took time to speak with USTA senior web newsroom correspondent Rich Fisher about his year, his career, and his favorite fishing location.

RF: First off, talk about the year you’re having at age 50. Ninth in North America in wins, leading driver at Monticello, fifth at Saratoga.

JD: Yeah I’m happy with the way things are going, I like driving at both of those tracks, they’re both good tracks to drive at. I pretty much split it between the two.

RF: You’re coming off a four-year-run in which you averaged 384 wins and $2.07 million in purses. Was the goal this year just to maintain that pace or did you have any specific numbers in mind with wins or earnings?

JD: No, if I can maintain that pace I’d be pretty happy with that.

RF: You are 255 wins away from 5,000. What will that mean to you besides you’ve been around a long time?

Geri Schwarz photo

Jim Devaux has won 158 races so far in 2017.

JD: (Laughing) Yeah, that’s probably what it means. It’s a nice milestone, that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to it. It’s not something you think about. You kind of really don’t even keep track. (Former Monticello publicist) John Manzi used to tell me I’m at this, or I’m at that.

RF: Among all those wins you’ve compiled, what are the most memorable and the ones you are most proud of? Any really stand out?

JD: No, not really. I didn’t really win any big ones. Just opens, stuff like that. I won some stakes races here and there at B tracks.

RF: Do you have a favorite horse, or a couple of favorite horses you’ve driven?

JD: Little Santamonica (winner of 50 races lifetime and more than $400,000 in earnings). She was good for me at Saratoga.

RF: Ever since your dad Butch raced horses at Saratoga, this is what you wanted to do. Was there ever a time when you were young, that you thought about doing something else — be a fireman or an astronaut — or was this always the dream?

JD: I’ve got to say no because I was born right into the business and this is pretty much what I planned on doing.

RF: When you were in high school, did you ever play any other sports, or was it always the horses?

JD: In high school I played a little sports. I played a little football back in the day for high school. I played baseball. I was into it. I was an offensive and defensive end for football, third base for baseball.

RF: So you did get a little break from the horses?

JD: Yeah, in high school. We were still going to the barn afterwards though. We really didn’t get a break from it. Dad really didn’t give us a break (laughing).

RF: In what ways was your dad an influence on you?

JD: A lot. He taught me a lot. He taught me the way the horses are and the different attitudes and that they’re all different and you’ve got to treat them altogether different. They’ve all got their own personalities, that’s for sure.

RF: Did you ever stop to wonder, if you weren’t doing this, what you would want to do?

JD: No, this is what I do. But I mess around with cars; I do mechanic work, woodwork. I just don’t do this.

RF: Is that your break from horses?

JD: Yeah, I tinker around with the cars. I go fishing, hunting. I love doing that. I love the outdoors. I pretty much stay local (around Port Jervis, N.Y.). I’ve got some good spots I go to. The one thing I notice with some guys is their life revolves strictly around (harness racing). I try not to let that happen. It’ll burn you out and then you get stressed out. That’s why I enjoy the outdoors and I look forward to it.

RF: So, are you going to share your fishing spots with us or keep them a secret?

JD: To tell you the truth I go to the Rio Reservoir. Great place, nice and quiet. Just a great place.

RF: What’s the biggest fish you ever got?

JD: I caught a 7-1/2 pound brown. That was at that Rio Reservoir. (Laughing) I probably shouldn’t have told you about it.

RF: Yup, once this piece appears you’ll be fighting for elbow room the next time you’re up there.

JD: Yeah. I’ll probably meet you there.

RF: Yeah, let me get that programmed in my GPS. Anyway, things are going great right now, but you’re not an overnight success. You started in 1990 at age 23 but through your first eight years you averaged less than 20 wins a year. Was there ever a feeling of frustration or did you just consider it growing pains?

JD: Yeah I think it was more growing up. I figured it would come sooner or later. If it was going to happen, it was going to happen. It wasn’t my goal to be a driver. It just happened to work out and I enjoy it.

RF: You didn’t want to be a driver?

JD: The driving thing just kind of happened. Driving wasn’t really my goal. I was happy training the horses and just helping dad around the barn. He had me get my license and then it was just qualifying. My heart wasn’t always in it to just drive. It was more training. I just happened to pick up some mounts, got better at it, got a little power and it all worked out, and I’m fortunate to drive against some good guys also.

RF: So if you wanted to train, did you argue with dad about getting your driver’s license?

JD: Nah, it was pretty much ‘OK.’ We pretty much did what dad said. It was easier that way. You weren’t winning his battles.

RF: Why did he want you to get your license?

JD: He had a pretty good stable. When he didn’t have his driver, he wanted me to drive for him. I was kind of like a fill-in for him.

RF: But it’s cool he saw potential in you.

JD: Yeah, I remember one horse, Sugar’s Applejack. He was kind of a hard horse to handle. I got along great with him, won a bunch of races with him and that’s pretty much where I started.

RF: Things started to go your way with 113 winners in 1999. Then you had a big start in 2000 that got cut short due to a broken wrist. How frustrating was that for you?

JD: That was frustrating. That was actually the year my daughter was born also. It was a tough year. It didn’t heal right, so I had to have it operated on. I was out seven months, something like that.

RF: It’s tough to stay positive when you get hurt just when things are going well. What did you do to keep up your spirits and keep you going?

JD: I was lucky because my wife (Tammy) does the horses too and we had a stable at the time. She kept everything going. It was really a relief for me to have her going out there. I was a little depressed of course, but, you know. . .

RF: I’m sure having all this success makes it easy to keep going. But does just the actual act of driving still give you a rush?

JD: Oh yeah for sure. Just the speed and the split decisions you’ve got to make. It’s exciting. If I ever feel like I’m scared or I don’t belong out there then I’ll give it up. If you got a little fear in you I don’t think you should be out there anyway.

RF: Have you ever had fear, like when you first started?

JD: Oh yeah, I’ve been in spots where you get a little scared. I think everybody has for that matter. You got a horse that’s really grabbing on. You’re in a hole and somebody’s on the outside chasing. You can get yourself in trouble, that’s for sure. But I’m never really nervous going into a race. I enjoy what I’m doing; I really do.

RF: As a 27-year veteran, what do you think is the key to being a good driver?

JD: Of course making the right decision when you’re out there. And they always say it’s all in your hands. Making the right decisions, of course. But it’s all with the feel of the horse and the mount.

RF: A lot of instinct?

JD: Yeah, I think so.

RF: Have you changed as a driver in any way, be it your style or your mindset?

JD: I definitely have more confidence. And I’m definitely a lot more relaxed going into it. I don’t stress myself out going into a race. And I just drive my best really.

RF: The Mayor of Monticello, John Manzi, said in a story he wrote a few years ago, that you continue to be a force “quietly and without much fanfare.” Do you sometimes wish you were a regular at the high profile venues, or is there something to be said for the comfort level you have at Monticello and Saratoga?

JD: Yeah it’s a good comfort level for me. I’ve raced the Meadowlands; I’ve raced Yonkers and other tracks. But I’m real comfortable with these two tracks.

RF: So you don’t feel the need to get a lot of recognition?

JD: No, I don’t. I think John put it pretty good that way. Pretty much just give me my check so I can pay my bills and do what everybody else does. Go to work and pay bills.

But I’ll tell you, one thing that gets to me once in a while is the stress of traveling. Just being in the traffic, rush hour. Monticello is only a half hour from my house, but Saratoga is two and a half hours. I think that stuff gets to everybody.

RF: How much longer do you see yourself doing this and is there anything on your bucket list you have not done that you still hope to do?

JD: As long as I feel good doing it. I am 50 this year but I feel pretty good myself. Health wise I feel great. No aches and pains. I just want to try and keep driving well.

RF: Do you work out?

JD: No, but I’m very active. I’m always doing something.

RF: Do you watch sports? Are you a sports fan?

JD: No, not really, it’s pretty much racing for me. I’ll watch horse races or I’ll watch replays at other tracks.

RF: So if I asked you who won the Mets game last night you wouldn’t know?

JD: No, but I would hope the Mets won, I am a New York guy, so I kind of root for the New York teams.

RF: How did you and Tammy meet?

JD: Through the horse business.

RF: What are your daughters’ names?

JD: Samantha (age 18) and Kirsten (14).

RF: I’ve talked to a lot of coaches in other sports and they said that parenthood changed them when it came to their approach, and made them more laid back about losses because they saw there was more to life than just their profession. Was it the same with you when your girls were born? Could you handle adversity better?

JD: I think so. I definitely take a lot of joy in them. It doesn’t matter how bad of a day you had. When you get home, everything’s good.

RF: Do they go to the races?

JD: They go to the races. They’re really not into the horses though, which for me is OK.

RF: Are you a little surprised at where you’re at now from where you started out?

JD: Yeah, real surprised actually. I didn’t think I’d be this far, especially driving wise.

RF: If I asked the 23-year-old Jim where he thought the 50-year-old Jim would be, what would he have said?

JD: Probably say at a B track training horses. When I was driving and training horses at Monticello, I enjoyed training horses. I loved it, that’s why I did it. But it was too much and then I started driving and doing good that way. It was a little easier life and gives me more free time to do other stuff.

RF: Well that’s about it Jim, unless there is anything else you want to say or add.

JD: I’m fortunate to drive against some good guys. Some good, safe guys. We all pretty much kind of get along. It does make a big difference driving against some good, professional guys. Overall they’re pretty good.

RF: Jim, we appreciate the time and we wish you continued success. Go out and get an eight-pounder next time.

JD: I’ll try!